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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

DIY Painting A French Tomate

So it's happened again like clockwork.

On Sunday I fell in love again...

This time I fell hard for a box of French tomatoes.

I've been admiring them for a while now...not a good thing in France. If you wait too long they may be gone when you're ready to buy. Then you'll have to wait till next year. By the way this is a 'coulis' or package of tomatoes. Nothing like falling in a Big way for something. I'll be eating tomatoes morning, noon and night here - Coeur-de Boeuf, Ananas, Noire-de-Crimee,Sicilienne.

Just so you'll know next time you're in the marché this is a 'barquette' which normally holds raspberries or some other delicate fruit (never tomatoes or cherries/cerises).

And this a 'boîte' or a bunch (not a box).

Coeur de Boeuf from Brittany pretty well describes the shape of this tomato.

Though I'd prefer another name (as a semi-vegetarian) but nobody asked me...

If you're nice to the sellers in the marche you may get a guide to French tomatoes - the varieties are endless.

Time to wet your brushes PBers and tackle painting some tomatoes plus a cherry and tomato-red nail polish I couldn't resist in Monoprix. First trace your drawing on top of your photo on the iPad. Then lay in some cool shadows.

A wash of water and drop in some warm Scarlet Red. Tilt your board to get the paint to move around.

Same thing with the cerise/cherry. Lay in some Cadmium or any yellow on top of the water puddle

Before you drop the red on top. Let it runnnnn! The paint will move on it's own if you let it. Just sit back and watch the action.

I probably should have stopped here while I was ahead. That's the tricky thing to watercolor. Not doing/tweaking/fiddling too much and knowing when to stop.

44 comments:

So very jealous of all this variety in tomatoes! Bet they taste exquisite too ... no wonder you're in love :)And omg, for once the dog of the day is eclipsed in sheer cuteness by those adorable little chevres!

Well I love tomatoes so I would have been tempted also..Coeur de Boeuf..I have always preferred..:)

It's a real shame my Nexus..once I tansfer a photo onto it..and put my paper on top to trace.. the picture enlarges! it doesn't freeze in place..So I can never get a proper trace..I am definitely going to do this one next Carol..I trued a cherry tomato Sunday it looks like a little green bomb or something.Love the painting.Thanks for the tutorial.Now that I have more than one paintbox..I see the attraction..as they all paint differently no matter how novice one is..Apart from the fact that I love looking at them.

You have to set up a 'slideshow' album..they must have the same thing as Apple!?Then pop in just ONE photo into the albumNext turn off the NexusTurn it on but set it to slideshow (the flower button on The iPad)Et voila the picture won't wiggle.It works/ça marche

Oh I just love your Parisian site!!!! It's keeps me going until my next visit....the tomatoes....I'm awaiting the arrival of my gardens first few....mmmmmm.....so heavenly...But my biggest THANKYOU is the wonderful watercolor lesson....I just adore watercolors..my mother did some beautiful work but I'm still like a 4 year old...maybe this will help!!Merci merci merci!!!!!!! I cannot wait to be back!!

I hope it will..ill try later..right now..i traced on my Netbook and am looking at my first Carol Tutorial..a FAR cry from yours..I have to leave soon..but geesh you are so good at painting realistically but..with a real charm..the light in the nail polish bottle etc..I just love it all.Like Miss Holly above..my mom was a great artist..before I was born.. I wish some of her Beaux~ Arts and inate talents resided in moi.Thank you Carol..It is work to do a tutorial..And I loved it..will do it again with more time.

It's tomato season in our farmers markets, too, though I have harvested only 2 from the garden so far. I always wonder how the farmers get the jump on me, but the heirloooms and even the hybrids are worth every penny. Yes, tomatoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner till October!!!!

I love summer tomatoes! Everyone things theirs are the best, and I think they are ALL the best! Cherries, too, but the tart Montmorency ones are my favorites! Maybe I'll try the watercolor exercise, too....ummm?

Those chevre babies are darling - and especially in La Cirque boîtes! My friend, JoAnne, has given me a watercolor lesson and now you, too, have tried to get me started! So many loves, so little time! I love your idea about tilting the board and just watching the paint run throughout the water puddle! I think I'll try it!

Oooooh--are you going to start giving lessons now, Carol? Awesome! I love it. Love a good tomato, too. We had some from the farmer's market last week that were delicious, and not acidic, but when I asked the guy what variety they were, he said they were actually hothouse tomatoes! He grows beyond organic, and his stuff is always fabulous. Yum. We got some of his honey, and I use it in my granola I make. Delish.

Lately I noticed that you have posted one watercolor painting, however small, in the beginning of each entry, love it! And really appreciate your step-by-step "tell-all" of watercolor painting! And the information on paints and paint boxes!

Carol, I only wish I had your talent for painting! Alas, I am a dismal failure at that,so instead I will double(triple!) up on appreciation to you for sharing yours with us!Heirloom/Tomates a'lAncienne! Oh!So divine, so Summer!What stole my heart most was that precious Scottie and those adorable chevre babies!Thank you for the smiles!

Your tomatoes- real and painted- look sensation. One thing i love about the tomatoes here is that they sell red and yellow mixed, so you don't have to buy two punnets- such a fabulous idea- so simple. Love the chevres too- gorgeous- it's my favourite cheese too. Very interesting to see your step by step progress- I think painting tutorials online is a sensational idea for you- good luck with it.

Oh, I love painting posts! I love to see how things take shape one section at a time! So of course I'm wild about this one! And your subject is one near and dear to my heart... sigh. Such a short season for these really fine tomatoes -- then you get the ones that appear stuffed with styrofoam. Ugh! These are the best! And so if your painting!

I love the demonstration on how to watercolor. I'd love to see more of this! Thanks! Our tomatoes are just beginning to come in here in Maryland. I didn't know you are a semi vegetarian! That!s awesome! I am a low fat raw vegan. We'll be in France for 3 weeks (Provence/Cote D'Azur) and Barcelona for 4 days beginning Sept 1st. I'm sure there will be plenty of delicious fruits and vegetables to eat!! Can't wait to try the melons in Cavaillon!Patti

That's the fun of watercolor is learning your colors and how they work with each other. Just like cooking ingredients. It's no good copying someone else's recipes though we do it all the time. The key is to find out through trial and error (lots of errors!) what we really like. Finding our own voice.Bonne chance Jin

You almost talked me into getting that water color set out yesterday. I want to. I think I am afraid. Maybe tomorrow? I love the step by step instructions, but when you say to throw some water on the paper or puddle it on, or whatever you say, it just seems to me that the paint would run the heck all over the place and certainly not stay in the tomato outline! I am waiting to see you post some of your reader's attempts. I could try it and send you my abstract runny tomato. Maybe I will just enjoy your paintings.

Dear PB, I'm a 17 year old who is just picking up watercolours and I love the soft, dreamy effect in your paintings, but I'm having trouble with hard edges forming when it drys. Do you have any tips? Thank you for you time!